Thursday, at the first meeting between the Denver and Aurora city councils in almost a decade, Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan made it clear the city is not trying to take the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo away from Denver.

"We're not interested in the stock show," Hogan said at the meeting. "That's your issue. That's not our issue. We are not going to be involved."

The stock show needs more space and had considered relocating to Aurora — next to a proposed 1,500-room hotel by Nashville, Tenn.-based Gaylord Entertainment.

But some on the Denver City Council were concerned over possibly losing the stock show, and Denver last month pulled out of a joint application with Aurora for subsidies from the Regional Tourism Act, which would have helped pay for relocating the stock show.

Denver was a co-applicant with Aurora for the sales-tax subsidies, with Aurora seeking $85.4 million for the Gaylord hotel and Denver seeking $6.1 million for the stock show.

On Thursday, the stock show delivered its business plan to Denver, offering five alternative locations: four in Denver and one in Commerce City.

At the meeting in Aurora, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said he never doubted Aurora's intentions, blaming special-interest groups for fueling the supposed dissension.

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"The two governments never expected that Aurora was reaching for the National Western Stock Show," Hancock said.

Hogan had previously said the stock show was Denver's issue, but his words Thursday were the clearest and strongest to date indicating Aurora has no interest in luring the major tourism draw within its borders.

Aurora is still going forward with plans for the Gaylord hotel and expects to hear from the state in April on whether it will be awarded the subsidy.

The stock show wasn't even on the agenda for the meeting, but it certainly was the elephant in the room. Mostly, both councils talked about regionalism and how both cities can work together.

They discussed street connections at Stapleton, the RTD East light-rail corridor and a possible aerotropolis around Denver International Airport, among other topics.

As for the aerotropolis — a New Urban design concept that places airports at the center of cities rather than at the outskirts — Hancock said Aurora, Adams County and other entities will be vital to making that come to fruition.

"We are going to have to do this collaboratively," Hancock said.

Aurora Councilwoman Barb Cleland praised Denver for going after the 2022 Winter Olympics and again noted regionalism is key in that effort.

"I think what you are doing is great," Cleland said. "The whole issue, to me, is a statewide thing, but Denver is the true bidder."

Denver Councilman Paul Lopez said Aurora and Denver need to work together to ensure that police do not engage in racial profiling.

Rockies are on pace to lose 93 games this seasonThe Rockies lost three of four in St. Louis and are on pace to lose 93 games as they come home for a three-game series with Seattle before going back on the road again to face Washington.